1977 Restoration complete.

[Dishman]

So it took a few years but the project is complete. New stringers, carpet, perfect pass, two amps, sub, 6 speakers in 2011. New Gel Coat, Vinyl letters 2012. Special thanks to Mark at Fiberglass Plus in Fort Ripley MN for the incredible new Gel coat. We used Arctic White from the early 90's Nautiques as the Gel Coat color. And thanks Mark for talking me into Gel vs. Paint. Also thank you to Big Al Thomas of Jacksonville FL for the Vinyl letters with the shaded or "feathered in" look and the 1/8th black pin strip. Optically I don't think it could have turned out better. Should be in a Museum somewhere but looks (and sounds) too good in the water. Ready for another 30+ years.

[TRBenj]

Did you see my questions in your other thread?

http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...nterrior/page2

[Mamigacz]

That looks awesome! The exterier and interier could not look any better.

Did you have the compete boat gelcoated or just below the rub rail?
I like that idea for integrating the speaker below the ski locker. Is the raised ski locker typical for nautiques or is it a modification you made during the restoration?

[TRBenj]

Is the raised ski locker typical for nautiques or is it a modification you made during the restoration?

Those ski lockers were common on the 2nd gen (1970-1981) Ski Nautique. Some boats had 2 (1 on each side), others just had one (my '80 has one on the starboard only) and some boats didnt have any (they were optional).

[Dishman]

Reply to TRbenj from other thread and Mamigacz.

The Vinyl Graphics from Al Thomas are exact traced off a 1977. He owned a Correct Craft dealership for 20+ years and still drives a 1979 so with out painting them on it is as exact as can be I think. I have seen the goof jobs done on these and don't believe it looks like one. I also had the exact measurements from the chime and rub rail for all the different points for the water lines and letters. Mark from fiberglass plus, myself and a friend spent most of a Sat. putting all the graphics on. Mark, the gel coat expert, has a lot of experience placing graphics on boats (all boats not nautiques) and it still took 3 of us most of a day.

As to the Grey vs. red...I looked at tons of pictures researching this project. I like how the blue nautiques and grey nautiques look. And I like the true fire truck Red's a little. But my interior is not original and not red but is in really good shape so I was not going to switch it. The carpet from Christine's is "sunset" and it is more like a lighter maroon. The vinyl is too. (vs. fire truck red) In 77 I guess they called the color wineberry? Anyway, when I look at pictures there is too much wineberry color when the graphics are all wineberry and the interior is all wineberry and the capret is wineberry. I wanted to break it up a little. The "correct craft" on the side is a sticker too vs. the chrome plate. I took a chrome plate ( the one you can still buy today on websites) to a sticker shop and had them make it in "wineberry" to tie the interior and exterior together. My MN registration numbers are also wineberry. Grey Metallic is obviously neutral and could go with alot of stuff but looks really good with Maroon. At the end of the day it is better than and closer to original than with a wakeboard tower and fire truck red generic font of " Ski Nautique". I will see if I have any pictures of the front. If i can't find one I will take on next summer and post it.

Mamigacz,
The entire boat was sanded down. Deck, Transom, Sides, bottom etc. All imperfections were made true and perfect. (nicks in the chime etc.) And then Mark put a really thick gel coat on. So we found other things that are not original. She came with a ladder vs. the swim platform as we found those old holes when we sanded off all the paint. The "ski locker" I am not sure if that was original or not. I have heard it was not but then I have seen them in other 70's Nautiques so it must have been a commom tweak if it is not original. Sam Inks, from Waterloo IA owned this boat originally and he restored it (painted, Vinyl interior, carpet etc.) in the late 90's and he put those speakers there. I can tell you they sound incredible cased in fiberglass like that.

I took that picture spur of the moment with my blackberry one day when our family was enjoying a Sat. My intentions were always to stage the boat in a nice spot and use a real camera to try and get this thing in a calendar either here or correctcraftfan. I will get to that next summer. We were too busy skiing behind it this summer to stop and take pictures.

[Quinner]

My first CC was a 77', originally had the ladder, which I switched out to a platform. Believe 78' was the first year platforms became available. Also had the ski lockers on both sides. Like how you changed the black to white on the dash also.

Some pics from back in the 80's, lol

[Dishman]

Thanks Quinner,

I have seen these pictures before. One of the reasons I like the Blue ones from the 1977. I love the wheels on your trailer and have thought about switching the wheels on my trailer. A hot rod boat deserves hot rod wheels on its trailer. Very cool.

[TRBenj]

The Vinyl Graphics from Al Thomas are exact traced off a 1977. He owned a Correct Craft dealership for 20+ years and still drives a 1979 so with out painting them on it is as exact as can be I think. I have seen the goof jobs done on these and don't believe it looks like one. I also had the exact measurements from the chime and rub rail for all the different points for the water lines and letters. Mark from fiberglass plus, myself and a friend spent most of a Sat. putting all the graphics on. Mark, the gel coat expert, has a lot of experience placing graphics on boats (all boats not nautiques) and it still took 3 of us most of a day.

Sounds like you took great pains to get it right- nice!

Those ski lockers/pockets are definitely original. If you want a line on original white/black plastic emblems, drop me a line.

[AirTool]

I will get to that next summer. We were too busy skiing behind it this summer to stop and take pictures.

I know exactly what you mean.

[GoBig]

Nice work, looks great!

[Nautique 74]

I'm planing new upholstery and gel-coat nick repairs and new stripes on my red '78 SN this winter. I like the vinyl stripes you have, I was getting estimates from a local marina to get the gel-coat reairs and the red stipes & lettering painted.

Who is Big Al? I would like to see about the vinyl, like you have. I've been told on CCFan that vinyl will not go on straight, but yours look great! Also your stipes & lettering is bolder with the pin stripes. Thanks.